Mac OS X Keyboard Shortcuts

For anyone who spends more than 30 minutes on a computer a day, surely you use a variety of keyboard shortcuts to save you time and move faster when doing your variety of activities on your computer.

Keyboard Shortcuts Terminology

The following is a list of what the keys look like on your keyboard and what they are called when speaking about them.
 (Command key) - On some Apple keyboards, this key also has an Apple logo ( )
 (Control key)
 (Option key) - "Alt" may also appear on this key
 (Shift key)
 (Caps Lock) - Toggles Caps Lock on or off
fn (Function key)
(Taken From Apple Support)

Most Used Mac OS X Keyboard Shortcuts For Beginners

The following is a list of very simple, shortcuts that everyone should know. They can be used nearly anywhere and are invaluable in saving time.

Command+C = Copy

This can be used for virtually anything in almost any program. You can copy files, text, and images.

Command+V = Paste

This is used to put the copied file in the place you want.

Command+Tab = Change Applications

This keyboard shortcut allows you to switch to different open applications very quickly. Hold Command down and press tab more than once to change to different applications. Release when you have chosen the application you want. This is called tabbing through applications.

Command+Shift+Tab = Change Applications (Reverse)

This is one of the less known keyboard shortcuts. If you want to go in the opposite direction when tabbing through applications simple hold shift and press as many times as needed.

Command+Q = Quit Application

This quits the application.

Command+Z = Undo

This allows you to undo something you did. This will normally be available in Word or a similar application. Of course this is available in many other places where you are creating something.

Command+Y or Command+Shift+Z = Redo

If you have used undo and change your mind, you can change it back.

Command+A =  Select All

Selects everything in a window. This can be in finder or in other places where selection of files is available. Can also be used in a  variety of other applications where you can select things

Click+Shift+Click = Select Multiple Files 

This selects all of the files from where you first clicked until the last place that you clicked

Command+Click = Select Certain Multiple Files

This will allow you to select many files on that are not necessarily in consecutive order.

Most Used Mac Keyboard Shortcuts For Intermediate Users

These are some keyboard shortcuts that many intermediate users do not know. Some of these keyboard shortcuts will save you a lot of time and frustration!

For Text

Command+(Left or Right Arrow Keys) = Skip to the Beginning or End of a Line of Text.

This can be used when editing text. This will save you a lot of time!

Command+Shift+(Left or Right Arrow Keys) = Highlight an Entire Line

This is one of the best keyboard shortcuts in my opinion. Highlight the entire line to quickly delete, copy, or replace text.

Alt+(Left or Right Arrow Keys) = Skip Across Text By Word

Skip across text by word rather than by character. This can be combined with shift in order to quickly highlight words.

For Web

These keyboard shortcuts will help you browse the net faster!

Command+W = Close Tab in Browser

Closes a single tab in a  browser window

Command+Shift+W = Close Entire Window

Closes the entire window and all of the tabs inside of a window.

Command+T = Open New Tab

Opens a new tab in your currently open window.

Backspace = Back

Go to the page you were on before in your browser.

Command+F = Find 

This Keyboard Shortcut Finds text on a webpage.

Command+Click = Open in New Tab

When holding Command and clicking on a link, a new tab will open with click link's content.

Control+Tab = Tab Through Tabbed Windows

Allows you to quickly move through different tabs. Adding shift will allows you to tab in the opposite direction.
Thats all of the keyboard shortcuts for now! There are plenty more keyboard shortcuts for Word, web browsers, and many other programs. More will be added in time!